Telephone wars . . . Anybody who's anybody in...

Anybody who`s anybody in Illinois spent a lot of time on the telephone Tuesday. The phones were kept busy with Cook County Democratic Chairman Ed Vrdolyak tying up the lines on behalf of Illinois Atty. Gen. Neil Hartigan and State House Speaker Mike Madigan (D., Chicago) working the wires on behalf of Adlai Stevenson. Each is trying to nail down commitments for his candidate for governor and do himself a little good at the same time. It`s no secret that Madigan and Hartigan can`t stand each other, and Madigan sees this as a great opportunity to sabotage Hartigan`s campaign and be a power broker at the same time. In his little scenario, Harold Washington is mayor, Stevenson is governor and he`s chairman of the Cook County Board. . . . Meanwhile, party sources say Gary Strell, who has been on Hartigan`s staff in the attorney general`s office, will move over to run the campaign.

Music notes . . .

The lineup for next month`s Farm Aid concert in Champaign has been expanded to include a whole bunch of performers whose knowledge of farm problems may be limited to what they`ve seen on ``Green Acres.`` The Beach Boys, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Eddie Van Halen, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Sammy Hagar have signed on to join Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers and the others already announced at the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium, which can hold almost 100,000. Tickets for the Sept. 22 show, priced at $17.50 with a six-ticket limit, will go on sale Wednesday. The show will be carried live on cable TV`s Nashville Network. . . . Jane Wiedlin, a founding member of the Go-Go`s who left the band last October, will release her first solo album next month.

Small screen trade . . .

Ed Asner, Ellen Burstyn and producer Joseph Papp will discuss the effect of AIDS on the entertainment community with reporter Maria Shriver on Wednesday`s ``CBS Morning News.`` Last month, when Rock Hudson`s AIDS became public knowledge, the ``Dynasty`` cast stonewalled the press about how they felt about working with him, especially Linda Evans, who had some steamy love scenes with him. But you can bet they`ve got plenty to say in private. . . . Changes are in the works at WBBM-TV (Channel 2). Behind the scenes, the newsroom operation is being revamped, some staffers are being let go and others are being added. On camera, viewers are seeing more live lead-ins to the news, ``news music`` and more graphics. It`s all part of the station`s Newman-ization since the arrival of news director Jay Newman. ``Deep Video,`` a disenchanted staffer who has been sending weekly anonymous updates to the press, writes, ``Staffers are saying if they`d wanted to work at Channel 7, they would have applied for work there.``

Under the covers . . .

In ``The Other Side of the Moon,`` a biography of David Niven by Sheridan Morley, a very different picture of the always suave, always confident actor emerges. Deborah Kerr, who costarred with him in ``Separate Tables,`` says he very much identified with the imposter he played in the movie. ``David felt that he was on familiar ground (playing a bogus Army major). In his own life, he had always been acting and pretending--`dressing up for the grown-ups,` he used to say.`` Delbert Mann, director of ``Separate Tables,`` agreed. ``David perfectly caught that anguish and pain behind (the character`s) eyes,`` he says.

publicist Jayme Nicholas and securities analyst Don Bustos, who have set an October wedding date.

The eat beat . . .

Reed Merelinger, general manager of Don Roth`s River Plaza, is tying up with former Atty. Gen. Ty Fahner to open R.D. Cluckers on Clark Street, a restaurant specializing in chicken dishes, of course. . . . Jimmy Ma, the Rich Melman of Oriental restaurants, opens Ma De Mer at 2324 N. Clark St. this week. The new ``Japanese-French`` spot is Ma`s fourth Chicago restaurant, and he`s planning his fifth--with a ``Chinese-Italian`` menu.

INC.lings . . .

Watch for an announcement about a big Comiskey Park wrestlefest on Sept. 28, the first time since 1979 that bouts have taken place there. Tickets will be going on sale Friday for the 13 ``Super Clash`` bouts, 10 of which will be for international championship titles. . . . If you want to try out for the Luvabulls on Sept. 27, you`d better get started now. Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to A-Plus, 666 N. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, Ill. 60611, and you`ll receive an application. Don`t even bother unless you`re an 18-year- old high school graduate with a full-time job. . . . Wednesday birthdays: Donald O`Connor, 60; Nancy Kulp, 64; Ben Gazzara, 55; Ron Guidry, 35.

. . . ``Saturday Night Live`` producer Lorne Michaels will be back in town Wednesday to look at some of the SNL hopefuls who auditioned for him earlier this month. . . . Second City stage manager Craig Taylor and wife Natalie named the new baby Samantha Elizabeth Taylor, which is great, but her initials spell SET--get it? Second City? Sets?